Something For The Weekend: The Muppets

And you probably still love The Muppets, you just keep it behind a persona of indifference and evil.

The 2011 The Muppets movie carries on the tradition of Kermit & Co. brilliantly. In a world of sequels and reboots (claims of both could be aimed at this film) it is refreshing to see a work that actually cares about its characters and legacy.

Co-written by star Jason Segal and Nicholas Stoller, it is a hilariously funny film with a really good heart. It doesn’t feel cloying or mawkish, but genuine in a manner some actual, real human people are unable to articulate.

Taking the plot of The Blues Brothers (reform the band to save the orphanage) and giving it an “evil oil baron” twist (played by the delightfully devilish Chris Cooper), The Muppets sing and dance their way to victory.

Or do they?

The performances from Jason Segal and Amy Adams are pitch perfect, whilst the Muppets are all exactly as you remember them. There is no jazzing up, no extra 21st ironic edge to them. This is just pure, unadulterated fun. Throughout it is also fun to try to spot all of the cameos, of which there are plenty.

Even the songs are excellent and Man or Muppet (by Flight of the Conchord’s Bret McKenzie) made this an Oscar winning film. Films with songs and dancing are usually worse than torture, but these were genuinely entertaining and the whole thing is a stark reminder that they don’t make films like this anymore.